354 [December, 



and admitting thenri to the Library at hours when the proper officers are not pre- 

 sent, is of very doubtful propriety, and, unless checked, may sooner or later 

 cause the Society great regret. 



Respectfully submitted by 



Wm. S. Zanxzinger, 



Librarian. 



REPORT OF THE CURATORS 



For 1S51. 



The Museum of this Academy, placed under the charge of the Curators and the 

 Committees of the several departments, continues, up to the preseut time, in the 

 best state of preservation. The depredation of insects npon destructible objects 

 appears to be completely under control, through the combined influence of the 

 vapor of ether and the oil of turpentine. 



The collection of Mamm.alia, during the past year, has been classified and 

 arranged by Drs. Bridges and Fisher. 



All departments have received valuable additions, as follows : 



Mammalia. Of this class there have been presented 28 specimens, comprising 

 20 species, among which was a remarkably fine specimen of a Polar bear, for 

 which we are indebted to Dr. E. K. Kane, U. S. N.; also a large Rocky Moun- 

 tain sheep, presented by the Smithsonian Institution. The others are principally 

 from Dr. G. Watson, Mr. W. S. Wood, Dr. J. C. Fisher, and Mr. W. S. Vaux. 



Aves. 42 bird skins and 17 species of eggs have been presented, chiefly by 

 Col. Geo. A. McCall, U. S. A., Messrs. Joshua Lippincott, John Lambert, J. D. 

 Sergeant, and Dr. G. R. B. Horner. 



There were also presented 29 nests and eggs of common English birds by 

 Edward Wilson, Esq. 



Reptilia. We are under obligation to Prof. Franklin Bache, for the original 

 collection of reptiles formerly belonging to Dr. Jacob Green, consisting of 94 

 specimens in bottles and 15 species dried Cheloniae. Besides these we have 

 received 25 species, chiefly from Dr. G, Watson and Mr. R. H. Kern. 



Pisces. Of these 26 species have been presented, principally by Prof. F 

 Bache. 



Mollusca. 306 species of shells have been added to our collection, the princi- 

 pal donors being Dr. J. L. Burtt, U. S. N., Dr. Wier Mitchell, and Dr. Thos. 

 Stewardson. 



Insecta. Of which 200 species have been received, chiefly Coleoptera and 

 Lepidoptera. 



Crustacea. To this department we have received the greatest accession. 

 Altogether 2,384 specimens have been presented. Of these 1,482 specimens, 

 comprising 410 species, constituted the collection of M. Guerin Meneville, 

 presented to the Academy by Dr. T. B. Wilson. 



Annelida and Myriapoda. Of which we have had presented 12 species. 



Zoophyta. Of this class 117 specimens have been presented, chiefly by Mr. 

 Edward Wilson. 



